Torpedo-launching apparatus.



A. FERNANDEZ. TORPEDO LVAUNCHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED sEPLzo. 1916.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

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TORPEDO LAUNQHING APPARATUS. APPLlcAnoN FILED sEPT.2o. |916.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

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1 il sf ALPHONSE FERNANDEZ, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF GOLIJ'MBIA.

TORPEDO-LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

Application led September 20, 1916. Serial No. 121,249.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALrrroNsn FERNANDEZ, a subject of the King of Spain, residing at the city of l/Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo-Launching Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suoli as will enable :others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention aims to provide a simple apparatus for launching torpedoes in any di-l rection from a submarine vessel while submerged and to this end the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section, 'partly in' mechanism preparatory to discharging a torpedo, the coperating parts of the vessel being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the Vlaunching apparatus immediately after ejecting a torpedo;

Fig. le is a horizontal section on the plane indicated by the line 4 1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the plane designated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a similar view on the plane indicated by the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, showing one of the torpedo clamps in operative position; Y

Fig. 7 is a duplicate of Fig. 6 with the exception that the clamp is shown in open position;

Fig. 8 is a plan view ofthe two sliding rods for releasingthe clamping means and the ejecting means, showing more particularly the operating crank forsliding these rods; Y

Fig. 9 isa vertical transverse section on the plane designated b y the line 9 9 of V1, showing` more vparticularly the operating means for the doors of the compartment in which the torpedo launching apparatus is normally housed, said doors being shown in closed position; and

Fig. 10 is a duplicate of Fig. 9 with the doors open.

. Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse section on the plane of the line 11-11 of Fig. 1. In the drawings above'brieiiy described, the numeral 1 designates the shell of a submarine and 2 has reference to an external compartment of said shell, said compartment having doors 3 which when closed exclude water therefrom. At its opposite ends the compartment 2 is also equipped with doors 4 by means of which the torpedoes may be inserted into the launching apparatus which is normally housed in said compart- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 7, 1917,

ment 2. Links 5 connect the doors 3 Vwith vertical operating screws 6 having hand wheels or the like 7 on the interior of the vessel and in order that said links may offer no obstruction to inserting the torpedoes, they are bowed outwardly as depicted most clearly in Figj 9. 'y

Journaled` at their ends in appropriate bearings carried by the bottom of the com- Ypartment 2 and by any appropriate superstructure 8 beneath said compartment are two vertical screws 9 having gears 10 on their lower ends meshing with another gear 11 which may be driven in either directionA etY so as to simultaneously rotate the two screws 9. A cross head 12 is provided with threaded openings receiving the screws'9 so that as said screws are turnedxsaid cross head will be raised or lowered according tothe TheV cross head 12 is formed with central opening 13 alining .with a stuflingbox 14: on the botdirection of rotation ofrsaid screws.

will be projected through the stuffing box 14 beyond the top of the vessel when the doors 3 are opened.

The upper end of shaft 15 has formed` thereon a hollow head 18 to which approxi- VV mately the center of a torpedo cradle 19 isy Yto hinged at 2O for vertical adjustment. For so adjusting` the cradle 19 a link 21 connects vit `Vwith the upper end of a vertical rodl`22 which' passes through the hollow shaft 15, said rod being swiveled at 23 toa vertical screw '24 having a' vhand wheel 25 disposed at the lower end of the shaft. By proper manipulation of the screw 24,' there'- flore, the cradle 19 may be adjusted vertically aroundits hinge20 after'i't is once projected from the compartment 2 by raising of the shaft 15.

-iflhe cradle 1S) isA preferably in the ,form ofA a hal-f tube with tubular guides 2G'eX- tending along its edges and formed with longitudinal slots 27 in their inner sides. A pairof plungers 23 V(see`1 ig. 4) 'are mounted slidably inv the tubularguides andgby means of coiled springs 29 housed insaid guides, said plungers are adapted to be projected whenrelcased in the manner rto be described. A stirrup 30 'extends between the plungers 28 and when the latter are projected, the ends of said stirrup are adapted to travel in'the slots 27 said stirrup then serving to eject a torpedo T fromthe .cradle 19. VThe"stirrup 301. is preferably in the form of a pivotally mounted bail so as to swing downwardly when the plungers 28 have been reset to permit the insertion of another torpedo into the rear'cnd of the cradle.`

' A forked arm 31 projects rearwardly from the lower side of cradle 19 and in its fork the vertical shank of a plunger locking fork 32 is pivotally mounted, the arms of said fork cooperating with laterally projecting stops 33 on the rear ends of the plungers 2S as depicted clearly in 4|, said=arms being adapted to be swung upwardly in front of the stop 33 when the plungers are retracted to4 hold the latter against the tension of the springs `Forholding' the fork 3 2 inoperative position, a rigid -nger projects forwardly from the lower end of its shank and overlies a keeper 35 on the rear end of a release rod 3G :which is slidably mounted in suitable bearings carried by the lower side of theV cradlel 19, a coiled spring 3`7jbeing provided `for so shifting the rod-36 as to normally dispose the keeper in operative position.vr ,The rod 36v terminates within the hollow head 18 and is1 here'provided with a laterally extending finger 38 against which a vertical finger 39 on'a hori- Zontal crank arm v40 bears, said arm 4 0'being carried rigidly bythe upper end of a vertical rock" shaft 41 which passes through thehollow shaft- 15. The lower end of shaft 41'is equipped with an operating lever 42 having suitable means 43 for locking it against movement when required. Tt will 4thus be observed that whenv lever 42 is operated in the proper direction `linger 39 vill" for@ @gai-11st 3.8 en@ vill @1111s $1.14@

rod 36 to release the finger 34 from keeper 35. This permits the springs 29 to project the plungers`28 'to eject'the torpedo T, the rear end -`of said torpedo being seated withinthe rstirrup 30 as shown in Fig. 4.

A-suitable ynumber or" cla1nps44 are provided for holding the torpedo T in the cradle 19 'untif'i'tis"desired to release the same. Each clamp 44 consists of a pair of arms 45 e'Xtend'ing around the cradle and having suitable springs 4Q at their free ends for contact with the torpedo, said arms 45 being pivotally supported on a sliding rod 47 which is mounted inappropriate bearings carried by the lowersi'de' of the Vcradle 19, the inner end of said rod abutting the end of the rod 3G as shown clearly in Fig. 8, whereby movement of 36 will be in' turn imparted to47. The rod 47 carries bolts 48 equal in number to the clamps 44,'said-bolts being normally received between the angular lower ends of thev arms 45 so asto retain the springs 46 inl forcible contact Vwith the torpedo, va spring 50 being provided for yieldably holding said rod in such position as to retain itsY bolts 48 in operative relation with theends 49.'

'By the'iconstruction just described, it will be obvious that when the shaft 41 is rocked to shift'rod to release' the plungers 28, the two clamps 44 will be simultaneously released, due tothe fact that the bolts 48 are withdrawn. The springs 29'then eject the torpedo and the motor of the latter is automatically set operation in the well known ina'nnerffv To insure that the clampsV 44'open sul'licient to preventfrictional' contact with the't'orpedo, 'springsl 51 shown in Figs.` 6 and 47v are employed Afor opening said clamps.

" 'Thetwo clamps 44 are preferably disposed at the front end of the cradle 19 vas shown and although similar' clamps may be employed at the rear end thereof, 'it is sufficient that "a'rigid loop 52- be provided'at this" location. for holding the :torpedo in proper position and lit is to 'be understood that said loop is of 'sutlicient size to prevent from lin any manner retarding the movement of the vtorpedo when ejected.vv

For the'pu'rpose of preventingaccidental discharge of the torpedo T while housed within the compartment`2, a fork 5,3 'or an equivalent device isprovi'ded, said fork being'sliown vas having a threaded shank rcceived in a tubular nut 5K4 swiveled in the bottom of said compartment and having a hand "wheel on the interior of the vessel whereby said fork may bereleased and removed 'when it is desired to inserta torpedo into the apparatus through the front end ofthe latter." A

' 'For the purpose of closing the clamps 44 after they have been released, to permit the bolts 4S to be again projected to operative position by theirispring .50, jack screws 56 shown more particularly in Fig. 11 are threaded through the bottom ofthe compartment 2.

In operation, assuming that all parts` -stand as shown in Fig. 1 with the torpedo T clamped in the apparatus by means 'of the clamps 44, and that the commander of the vessel wishes to discharge said torpedo, the screws 6 will first be operated to o-pen the doors 3 and this having been done, the screws 9 will be turned so as to raise the cross head 12 to slide the shaft 15 through the stufling box 14, thus elevating the entire launching apparatus clear of the vessel. The angle of the cradle 19 may now be adjusted by thehand wheel 25 and by turning the shaft 15 by means of a handle wheel or the like 15 the torpedo may be aimed in any required direction. All of this having been done, the locking device 43 is released and the lever 42 is operated so as to cause the finger 39 to engage 38 andfthus slide f both rods 36 and 47 forwardly. These rods v water while the submarinecarrying the im Y at approximately the same time, release the fork 32 and the clamps 44 with the result that the springs 29 project. the stirrup 30 to force the torpedo T from the cradle 19. The usual motor of the torpedo is set in operation automatically in the well known manner as it leaves the cradle and said torpedo will therefore travel to its destination.

After firing the torpedo, the screws 9 are rotated to move the shaft 15v again downwardly so as to dispose the empty appara tus again in the compartment 2. The doors 3 are now closed and one or both of the doors 4 are opened to permit the water in the compartment 2 to drain therefrom. This having been done,by means of asuitable mechanism` not shown, the stirrup 30 is grasped and withdrawn from the cradle, thus again placing the springs 29 under tension. The fork 32 which has in the meantime assumed the position shown in Fig. 3 is now returned to the position depicted in Fig. 2 and is locked inv this position by sliding the rod 36 rearwardly until the keeper 35 underlies the finger 34. With the stirrup 30 now pendent from its pivots as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, a torpedo may be inserted through the rear door 4, that is, the door adjacent the rear end of the apparatus, and may be thusproperly located in the cradle 19, it being forced suiiciently forward to permit the stirrup 30 tobe again swung upwardly, after which said `torpedo is again shifted rearwardly to seat it snugly within the stirrup. This having been done, the. screws 56 are operated to close the clamps 44 and when this occurs the bolts 48 are automatically forced between the lower ends of the arms 45 to re tain said clamps in operative position. The doors 4 are now again closed and the apparatus is then ready for the launching of another torpedo whenever necessary. Be-

fore Vdoing this,'however, the screws 56 are preferably again released so that when the apparatus is reseated in the compartment 2 after firing another torpedo, the clamps 44 'case the ejecting means should be released by injury caused by.ank enemys shell, or otherwise. f v v The improved apparatus constructed as or substantially as shown and'described will bea highly eiicient instrument of naval warfare and vwill readily permit the discharge of torpedoes o-n the surface of the proved mechanism is submerged, but the use of the invention is not limited to launching torpedoes on the surface since due to the fact that the device may be adjusted angularly in a vertical direction, torpedoes may be sent to the surface from below or mayv be directed against enemy ships beneath the water line. It is also to be understood that althoughy in the present case but one torpedo launching device is shown 'on the end of the shaft 15, any suitable number of such mechanisms may be carried by said shaft and may be operated independently or in unison. Furthermore, although the Lejecting means for the; torpedoes is shown in the present embodiment of the invention as actuated by spring means, it is obvious that a hydraulic or pneumatic ej ectv ing mechanism could be employed.

I claim: p 1 1. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising 4a torpedo cradle, means for clamp- Y*ing a torpedo in said cradle,.means for ejecting said torpedo -whcn the clamping means is released, a sliding bolt for holding j Y saidclamping means in operative position, a sliding rod for moving said bolt, and I means for sliding said rod to release the bolt, the movement of said rod also serving to apply the ejecting means to use.

L2.V A torpedo launching apparatusfcomprising a torpedo'cradle, means for clamping af'torpedo in said cradle, means for ejecting said torpedo when the clamping said clamping means in operative positionj a sliding rod for moving saidvbolt, a second slidingrod. abutting the other andv adapted for applying theejecting means touse, andmeans for sliding said rods. 3.^A 'torpedo launching apparatus com-' `means is released, a sliding bolt for holdingJ fao fio

prising a torpedo cradle, means for clamping Va torpedo in said cradle, spring actuated torpedo ej ecting means, means for holding said ejecting 'means against operation, and means for releasing said holding means andthe clamping meansl approximately the same time. l

4L. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising a torpedo cradle, means for clamping a torpedo in said cradle, spring actuated torpedo ejecting means, means for holding said ejecting means against operation,` and one or more sliding rods for releasing said holding means and the clamping means at approximately the same time.

5. A ytorpedo`launching apparatus comprising atorpedo cradle, means' for clamping a torpedo in said cradle, spring actuated torpedo ejecting means, means for holdingsaid ejecting means against'operation, a sliding rod for releasingsaid clamping means, a second sliding rod for releasing said holding means, the two rods being in abutting relation, and means for sliding said rods.'

6. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising a torpedo cradle, a clamp for holding a torpedo in said cradle,said clamp consisting of a pair of arms passing around said cradle and pivoted together, onel end of said arms being adapted for engagement with the torpedo, and a bolt insertible bet tween the other ends of said-arms; in combination with torpedo ejecting means, and means for withdrawing the bolt and applying the ejecting means to use at approximately the same time.

7. A torpedo ejecting apparatus comprising a'torpedo cradle, a stirrup to receive the rear end of the torpedo, spring means for projecting said stirrup, a A vertically swinging locking member for holding said stirrup in retracted position, anda sliding keeper for holdingsaid locking member in operative position; in combination with means for clamping the torpedo in the cradle, and means for releasing said keeper and the clamping means at approximately the same tim 8. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising a cradle in the form of a half tube with tubular guides on its edges, said guides having longitudinal slots in their inner sides, a stirrup extending across said cradle and passing through said slots, springs confined in said tubular guides for projecting said stirrup to eject a torpedo from the cradle, and means for normally holding said springs under tension and for releasing them at will.

9. A torpedo launching apparatus comprising a torpedo cradle, a clamp at the front end thereof for holding'iatorpedo therein, a sliding rod beneath the cradle and a bolt carried by s aid rod for holding the clamp in operative position, spring means for ejecting the torpedo from the cradle, means for holding said ejecting means against operation including a second sliding'rod'beneath the cradle and abutting oneendA of the other rod, and means for sliding'thev two rods simultaneously.

lOl iThe combination with a submarine having a well in its upper side, of a torpedo cradle normally confined in said well, and a single shaftpassing slidably and rotatably into said welll from the `interior of the vessel and connected with the -cradle for projecting it vertically from the well and swinging it horizontally whenA projected.

i 11,. The combination with a submarine, of a shaft extending above -the upper side thereof., a torpedo cradle mounted on the upper end of said shaft and having torpedo clamping means, torpedo ejecting means carried by said cradle, and means for releasing the clamping means and ejecting means at substantially the same time from the interior of the vessel.

12. rllhe combination with a submarine, of a shaft extending above the upper side thereof, a torpedo cradle mounted on the upper end of saidshaft and having torpedo clamping means, torpedo ejecting means carried by said cradle, and means for releasing the clamping means and' eject-ing means at substantially the same time from the interior of the vessel including a control therefor passing lthrough the aforesaid shaft. V

13. rllhe combination with a submarine, of a vertical shaft extending from the top thereof, a torpedo cradle pivoted to the upper end of said shaft for vertical movement, means for swinging said cradle around its pivot, and'means for releasing the torpedo including coacting `relatively fixed and movable members carried respectively by the shaft and cradle.

lll.- The combination with a submarine, of a vertical shaft extending from the top thereof, a torpedo cradle pivoted to the upper end of said shaft for vertical movement, means for swinging said cradle around its pivot, and means for releasing the torpedo including coacting slidably engaged members carried one by the shaft and the other bythe cradle.

' The combination with a submarine, of a vertical shaft extending from the top thereof, a torpedo cradle mounted on said shaft for vertical swinging, torpedo releasing means carried by said cradle and including a movable control member having a shoulder, a rock shaft rising through the other shaft from the interior of the vessel, a. crank arm extending laterally from the upper end of said rockshaft, and a vertical finger rising from said crank arm in sliding contact the aforesaid shoulder.

iso

16. The combination with a submarine having an external well and a door or doors for normally closing said well to exclude water therefrom; of an open-ended torpedo cradle normally confined in said well, means for projecting said cradle from the well, and a water-tight door leading into the well from the interior of the vessel in line with the open end of the cradle.

v17. The combination with a submarine having a well in its upper side and a pair of hinged doors for said well to exclude water therefrom, an open-ended torpedo cradle normally confined in said well, a watertight door leading from the interior of the vessel into the well in line with the open end of the cradle7 and means for opening the aforesaid pair of doors including links bowed outwardly to prevent them from interfering with the insertion of a torpedo through said water-tight door into the cradle.

18. The combination of a submarine vessel, torpedo launching means, means for moving said launching means bodily beyond the vessel, and means for permitting loading of said launching means from the interior of the vessel while the latter is submerged without permitting an inrush of water from the sea.

19. The combination of a submarine vessel having an external well7 means for normally excluding sea water from said well',l

witnesses.

ALPHONSE FERNANDEZ. Witnesses: .Y

L. O. HILTON, J. A. GRIESBAUER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

